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Most of us can remember learning to swim. Maybe it was lessons at the local “Y”, where the chlorine smell nearly knocked you over; maybe it was the slightly dangerous, muddy lake water of a camp; or, perhaps your parents just threw you in the deep end, old-school style. Whatever your experience, you learned a key Life Skill: how to swim.
What Life Skills are we teaching our kids? Below is a random, incomplete list of some Life Skills to get you thinking. It is easy to forget to be intentional about these, and as we all know, time has a way of taking us by surprise. So pick one, and teach your kids starting today!
Swimming: literally, a lifesaver. Never, ever skip this vital life skill!
Doing laundry: boring, daily drudgery? You bet. But they better know how to do it – everything from gainful employment to a life partner may hinge on this one!
Answering/talking on the phone: A dying art, and (no kidding) next to impossible for today’s teens who have grown up texting or “facebooking” everyone. Nevertheless, the art of phone conversation will likely be around for a long time, and may even make a comeback. Ditto for the art of actual face-to-face conversation!
Tennis (or golf): Sports that are social, connectional and can be played for almost a whole lifespan. And tennis is a real bargain, with minimal equipment and a ton of free court space.
Cooking: Nothing fancy is required, but you can start at a very young age teaching the basic joys of making food – and kitchen safety, too. Mac and Cheese; beans and rice; how to make a salad – the basics may keep them alive in that first solo apartment!
Car care basics: Yes, they can call AAA, but a few simple checks can save their money andperhaps their lives. It’s worth a Saturday morning or two to review checking oil, tire pressure and fluids, and where the spare is.
What would you add to this list?
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